Megan Sugg received her high school diploma a month ahead of schedule, in the privacy of her home. Principal Vickie Plitt read a poem and talked about Sugg’s accomplishments and her promising future, gave her the diploma, and Sugg moved her tassel to the other side.

Her graduation on Thursday was an unofficial private ceremony in her home, put together by her principal, assistant principal and counselor so her terminally-ill mother could see her graduate.

“I was happy my mom got to see, but at the same time it was hard,” Megan said.

Darlene Sugg was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in November 2010 when she was 44. She went into remission for about a year, but the cancer metastasized to her liver.

When the Sugg family learned Darlene wouldn’t live long enough to see her daughter graduate June 10, they contacted staff at the high school to pull together a graduation ceremony in only a day.

School administrators went to work making sure there were the proper caps and gowns and flowers for the ceremony. It was an emotional experience for both the family and the school officials who attended. -via reddit